LLAMAS. 417 



creature, with comparatively short hair falling but little below the lower line of 

 the body. It was bred by the ancient Peruvians mainly as a beast of burden, or 

 for riding, and was chiefly characteristic of the southern portion of Peru, where, 

 before the Spanish conquest, enormous numbers of these animals were kept. The 

 introduction of horses and mules has, however, gradually led to the displacement 

 of the llama as a beast of burden. When, however, llamas and alpacas were the 

 only domesticated Ungulates in South America, their importance to the Peruvians 

 was fully as great as is that of the reindeer to the modern Laplander, since between 

 them they not onl} T did all the carrying work of the country, but likewise supplied 

 their masters with wool and flesh. The complete distinction between llamas and 

 alpacas from as far back as tradition or records extend, coupled with the extreme 

 antiquity of the Peruvian civilisation, indicates that the domestication of the 

 wild guanaco must in all probability have taken place at a very early period. As 

 showing the security of the country it may be mentioned that, soon after the 

 Spanish conquest, it was not uncommon to meet droves of from three hundred to five 

 hundred or even one thousand llamas, each laden with silver ingots, and the whole 

 in charge of a single native. Such droves slept in the open fields without the 

 slightest danger from loss by robbers. Only the male llamas were used as beasts 

 of burden, while the smaller females were kept for their milk and flesh. In travel- 

 ling along the roads the droves marched in single file, under the guidance of a 

 leader ; and such a line would traverse the highest passes of the Cordillera, and 

 skirt the most stupendous precipices with perfect safety. When not in active use, the 

 herds of llamas were kept on the higher mountain-pastures, where they would often 

 temporarily associate with wild guanacos. The Spanish conquerors of Peru spoke of 

 llama-flesh as being fully equal to the best mutton, and they established in the towns 

 shops for its regular sale. At the period of the conquest it is estimated that upwards 

 of three hundred thousand llamas were employed in the transport of the product of 

 the mines of Potosi alone. Llamas produce only one offspring at a time, so that 

 their rate of increase is not very rapid. Usually the young are suckled by the 

 mother for about four months, but in one race the period is longer ; and it is stated 

 that the young of two successive seasons may not unfrequently be seen suckling at 

 the same time. 



The alpaca (L. pacos) is a considerably smaller animal than the 

 llama, and is bred for the sake of its wool, which is of great fineness 

 and length, reaching in some specimens almost to the ground. The usual colour 

 of the wool is very dark brown or black. In regard to the origin of the alpaca, 

 Mr. Thomas has come to the conclusion that the old view of the vicunia being the 

 parent-stock is untenable, and that we must look to the guanaco as the true 

 ancestor. He observes, for instance, that the size of the alpaca, " although less than 

 that of the llama, is far greater than that of the vicunia. Its skull and teeth 

 wholly agree with those of the former, and the naked patches on the legs, so 

 distinctive of the guanaco as compared with the vicunia, are very often, although 

 not always, present, the exceptions being easily explainable in the case of an animal 

 bred and selected for generations solely with an eye to the thickness and extent of 

 its furry covering. The occasional growth of the fur over the naked patches is 

 not therefore to be wondered at. The probabilities also are much in favour of the 

 vol. 11. — 27 



